Beef Industry Supports Heart Walk

PIERRE (August 25, 2005)—When Johnny Smith talks about the 2005 Pierre and Rapid City Heart Walks, he gets enthusiastic. This heart disease survivor and partner in Fort Pierre Livestock Auction, Inc., was chairman of last year’s Pierre Heart Walk and is encouraging people to turn out and walk for heart health in 2005.

       Smith is also pleased that the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) is helping support the Heart Walks. “Until I discovered I had a serious heart condition and required surgery in 2003, I didn’t realize how important heart health awareness was,” says Smith, an SDBIC director. “It’s great that the South Dakota Beef Industry Council works hard to support a healthy diet and lifestyle, and beef certainly plays an important role.”

      The Heart Walks are a significant source of revenue for the American Heart Association states Robin Albers , regional director with the American Heart Association’s Greater Midwest Affiliate. “Last year, more than $140,000 was raised statewide through the Heart Walk,” she says, explaining that the Heart Walk helps fight heart disease and stroke by raising money to support lifesaving research, programs, advocacy and education.

      Financial sponsors like the South Dakota Beef Industry Council, she adds, are very important. “SDBIC sponsorship helps us reach our financial goals, which in turn supports our research and education efforts,” Albers says. “Our partnership with organizations like SDBIC helps us both emphasize the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle.”

     The Ft. Pierre Heart Walk is Sunday, September 11, and will begin at the Steamboat Park Amphitheater. Check-in and opening ceremonies are at noon with the walk beginning at 1 p.m.

     The Rapid City Heart Walk is Saturday, September 24, and starts from the Memorial Park Bandshell. Check-in and opening ceremonies begin at 8 a.m. with the Walk starting at 8:30 a.m. Both Heart Walks will recognize survivors of heart disease and stroke with special red caps.

     “Walking is good for you and so is eating beef,” says Smith. “Heart health and including beef in a healthy diet go hand-in-hand. I encourage everyone to come out and walk and help raise money for a darn good cause.”

      For more information about the event, or to register, go to www.americanheart.org and click on Fundraising and then Heart Walk. You can also contact Albers at 605-754-6267, or e-mail robin.albers@heart.org.

     The South Dakota Beef Industry Council collects the $1 checkoff in South Dakota and can retain up to 50 cents for state promotion, research or educational programs. The organization, comprised of eight agricultural groups, forwards the remaining monies to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board for national programs.